India expands metro and electric bus networks at Urban Mobility conference

The 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Exhibition concluded in Bhubaneswar, focusing on the theme ‘Urban Accessibility and Liveability in Digital Age’. Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal and Minister of State Tokhan Sahu emphasized the integration of urban transport with city planning through three principles: Integration, Inclusiveness, and Intelligence.

Officials reported significant growth in India’s metro rail infrastructure, noting that the operational network has expanded to 1,185 kilometers across 26 cities. Since December 2025, nine new metro projects covering approximately 174 kilometers have been approved, representing an investment of over Rs 59,000 crore. Additionally, work is reportedly underway on another 998 kilometers of metro lines.

Progress in electric mobility was also highlighted via the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme, which currently has 1,100 electric buses operational in 28 cities, serving approximately 2.5 lakh passengers daily. The conference addressed the importance of digital technologies, such as AI and real-time data, to improve traffic management, passenger safety, and multimodal connectivity while ensuring transport is accessible to women, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities.